Tuskegee Experiment, Henrietta Lacks’ “Immortal Cells”, and Willow brook School.
The Tuskegee experiment is so shocking, many ask how it could have happened.
Do you think this type of violation could happen again in the US?
Explain your position and note the ethical principles in the Belmont Report (from slides) which can guide researcher actions to protect patient rights.
When the Tuskegee experiments were publicly exposed in the early 1970s,what do you believe was the impact on African-Americans and their trust in the healthcare system and research?
Using the ethical principles from the Belmont Report, what actions can nurses and researchers take to protect human subjects and increase trust?
Respond to ONE of these prompts regarding Henrietta Lacks and her “immortal cells”:
When Mrs. Lacks’ cells were biopsied and sent to a research lab, there were no protocols for gaining consent from patients. However, it is important that we consider this unique case as nurses and researchers.
Using the ethical principles from the Belmont Report, what could her nurses and the researchers at Johns Hopkins have done to protect her rights?
The story of Mrs. Lacks and her cell line was not widely known until a book was published in 2010 (and Oprah Winfrey turned it into a movie). As noted in the article, her cell line contributed to many advances in health care. What are your perceptions of this case?
What suggestions do you have to address concerns about the situation now?
Critical knowledge about hepatitis A and B was gained through the Willowbrook study which brought significant benefits to society as a whole. At the same time, the study is used as an example of ethical violation in research.
Using the ethical principles from Belmont Report, what do you think about the risks/benefits of this study?
Because Willowbrook’s general wards were full, the only way children could be admitted was for parents to consent for their children to be enrolled in the study.
How does this impact the requirements of informed consent? Use the ethical principles from the Belmont Report to support your answer.
